Rangers FC do not have any intentions of stopping their summer spending spree anytime soon, no matter how difficult it becomes for manager Pedro Caixinha next season to bring a coherence amongst them. If reports are to be believed, then the Portuguese manager is now eyeing a move for Manchester United youngster Matthew Willock.
With Jose Mourinho in full flow in Manchester United’s transfer season, the Academy players are expected to find very little scope to prove themselves. Unlike Louis Van Gaal, Mourinho has more or less completely overlooked the importance of bringing up young talents. The Portuguese manager had to depend on their services only ion the last game of the season when he needed a fully fit first team squad for the Europa League final to play against AFC Ajax.
And with players like Victor Lindelof and Romelu Lukaku arriving at Old Trafford now, youngsters like Cameron Borthwick-Jackson and Matthew Willock are bound to find it difficult to break into the first team. Fortunately, Willock is in the good books of the manager who kept him in United’s game against Crystal Palace although he was unused. However, United’s reported interest in James Rodriguez makes it all the more difficult for the youngster.
Scottish Giants and Rangers’ archrival Celtic have also kept close tabs on the player for some time now after he was impressive for the Manchester United Under-23 side. Caixinha is a close friend of Mourinho and he could manage a move for Willock, although it looks more likely to be a temporary one.
Willock played a huge part for the underage side’s title-winning season featuring 42 times, scoring five goals and registering three assists. A central midfielder by nature, Willock can also play on the right flank where he often is handy owing to his brilliant speed.
The Light Blues have bountiful options in that part of the field and Willock’s addition would create a huge doubt as to where he can play in the squad. Moving to the Scottish Premiership would mainly be because of one reason, first team football. Rangers’ ousting from the Europa League has further slashed their weight in the transfer market as well.
Despite winning the first leg of the qualifying round by a goal, Caixinha saw his side lose quite shockingly to Luxembourgian side Progrès Niederkorn on their away trip. Progrès, in fact, managed to score only their third goal in European history in their first ever win in Europe against Rangers. It reflects that despite Rangers completing a whopping nine signings this summer, it doesn’t necessarily guarantee them success next season. so can Willock add some impetus to the squad?
